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Mukaiji (Don't know which version)

霧海箎

[Genre]Honkyoku

Mukaiji (Don't know which version) appears on the following albums

Album Artist

Art of the Shakuhachi Vol I Shakuhachi : Mitsuhashi Kifu
Legends recount that the priest Kakushin had a devoted disciple named Kichiku, who was an excellent shakuhachi player. Kichiku went on a pilgrimage to Ise province (today Mie prefecture) and eventually arrived at a shrine on top of Mt. Asama. While there he dozed off and dreamt of hearing wondrous flute sounds while drifting in the ocean in a small boat. After he awoke, he attempted to capture what he had heard in two new pieces for the shakuhachi, one of which was Mukaiji (‘Flute on the foggy sea’). Whatever the true source of this piece may have been, it is today considered to be one of the oldest honkyoku, ranking in importance with Koku (Empty sky, another piece that Kichiku supposedly composed on awakening), and Kyorei (Empty bell). The Kinko school Mukaiji is also known as Mukaiji-renbo or Mukaiji-reibo. This piece demands a playing technique known as kusabi-buki (wedge blowing) in which the breath is contoured like a wedge: first broadly and the gradually narrowing, producing a decrescendo. The mood of Mukaiji is highly refined and calm.

Calligraphy Shakuhachi : Vlastislav Matousek
Play ButtonHeart of Bamboo, The Shakuhachi : Ronnie Nyogetsu Reishin Seldin

Ichi on Buttsu - One sound Enlightenment Shakuhachi : Ronnie Nyogetsu Reishin Seldin
Mukaiji, or "Fog, Sea, Flute," is also one of the three oldest honkyoku, along with Koku and Kyorei. It is said that this piece was composed about 700 years ago by the monk Kichiku, who dreamed he was on a small boat in the open sea in the middle of a thick white fog. While on the boat he heard beautiful shakuhachi music, but could not see its origin. Later he composed this piece to capture the haunting melodies of his dream. Kichiku was one of the disciples of Kakushin, who brought the Fuke sect of Zen monks (those who played the shakuhachi to reach enlightenment), to Japan. The original founder was the Chinese monk Fuke-Zenji, who, in the Tang Dynasty, was the direct inspiration for all the oldest honkyoku.
Play ButtonTamuke Shakuhachi : Taniguchi Yoshinobu
Mukaiji is one of the "Three Ancient Pieces" along with Koku and Kyorei. The three characters used in the title help one to understand the meaning of this song. "Mu" means "kiri" or "fog"; Kai" is "umi" or "sea" and "ji" means "bamboo flute". The image evoked is of a monk sitting in a boat on a lake. Mountains arise from the lake and are shrouded in fog. Out of the fog comes a bright light "sound" which strikes the monk in the forehead. This light/sound a symbol of satori or sudden enlightenment.